Have you ever found the idea of studying the book of Revelation quite daunting? Have you ever thought, “Why should I study prophecy?” Because of its complexity, oftentimes people avoid examining it—with the assumption it was written only for Bible scholars and theologians—which leads for many to be uninformed, unbelieving, and uninterested in it. A while back, I met one of our staff members after teaching about prophecy, at church. He had gone to great churches throughout his life, but he told me something startling—he said that in all his years of going to church, he had never heard a series on the book of Revelation, not one single time in his entire life.
The last book in the Bible is probably one of the most misunderstood. But the content it consists of is too important to miss out on. The book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible, that I know of, that has a blessing associated with it for those who will read it—not once but twice! The first blessing is in the first chapter of Revelation in verse 3: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” The second blessing is in the last chapter, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (22:7). If this book was only meant for theologians to study, then it would not contain this blessing.
The message of Revelation is as relevant today as ever before, as our world seems to be descending into chaos. This book is God’s open letter to us and contains critical information about our future. It is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ… to show His servants” (Revelation 1:1). It’s important for us to know about the events that will take place so we can be well-equipped in preparing for them. We cannot understand where we are now if we do not understand where we are going.
In life, it can sometimes feel like the devil is winning. When we look into the world and witness all the atrocities that are happening, it is easy to be discouraged—we can clearly see the devil’s work around every corner. But the book of Revelation renews our hope for our future in Christ by reminding us that He is the victor, and He will return in all His glory and rule over us. Satan will be bound (20:1-3), Christ will bring justice through His righteous judgment (20:11-15), and we will be glorified in Him forever! (22:1-5)
As we journey through this study of Revelation, we’ll focus on five aspects of the book that are important in helping us understand the message of what we are to expect in the future, and how we are to live now because of it. As Christ’s servants, let us examine His revelation to us about the future, and our place in it.
The Book of Revelation is a Prophetic Book
The word apocalypse means “unveiling” and that’s exactly what the book of Revelation is—it is a prophetic book that discusses the unveiling of what is going to happen in the nearing End Times and what will come with the final revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Revelation is a Personal Book
Although it encompasses much of prophecy, Revelation is a very personal book the apostle John wrote to the seven churches regarding the vision he received from Christ.
Who Are the 144,000 Witnesses?
Though our world has witnessed many remarkable revivals throughout history, the greatest revival has yet to take place—it will happen during the Tribulation because of the 144,000 witnesses described in the book of Revelation.
Christ’s Return – The Moment God’s People Have Been Waiting For
As Christians, the moment we’ve been waiting for since Christ’s ascension over two millennia ago is the glorious moment of His return to earth, which we can study in Revelation 19 while we anticipate.
A Picture Book – The Importance of Symbolism in Revelation
We may never have thought of it in this way, but the book of Revelation is a picture book—one that uses signs and symbols to communicate the message of the End Times. And that same message is still relevant for us now.
For deeper study on Revelation and Prophecy, visit Dr. Jeremiah’s Prophecy Academy where you will find a panorama of prophetic materials to enhance your understanding of God’s Plan for the end of the world.